[Timbit]

Originally Posted by Variable

Hmm, I think there's some chemistry going on between those two across the aisle duh duh duh...

anyway, I'm kind of curious about where the MSA falls on the spectrum of the people here. If you went on like a ski trip or something, do you have assigned seating so no boys and girls are sitting together?

Is the mixing cool as long as it's in public and for a reason?

My MSA's pretty conservative. No mixing.
We have a curtain in the prayer room and I don't even know who's leading the prayer half the time or making the announcements...

If we're going on a ski trip and the men and women are in the same bus, then they sit separately (men at the front, women at the back).

Of course you have the people who're going to mix regardless, but they're still keeping it halal.

Sometimes people are like "Omg, the executives mix so freely, astaghfirullah! MSA is just Muslim Singles' Association" and I'm like "What're you talking about? Our MSA is like the most conservative MSA ever. The executives have to talk to each other... that's kind of a necessity."

Funny thing though... I volunteer with this other organization on campus and we were selling roses on Valentine's Day to fundraise, as well as panty roses later. That product did better than the actual roses. But one of the guys in the group is also really involved with MSA and he was like "Omg, my reputation in the MSA is shot!" He's been called "morally bankrupt" and a hypocrite. Pretty funny.

[Bruinrab]

Originally Posted by Timbit

Funny thing though... I volunteer with this other organization on campus and we were selling roses on Valentine's Day to fundraise, as well as panty roses later. That product did better than the actual roses. But one of the guys in the group is also really involved with MSA and he was like "Omg, my reputation in the MSA is shot!" He's been called "morally bankrupt" and a hypocrite. Pretty funny.

Tut-tut, talk about scandalous behavior. I, of course, would never do something like that.

No, when I was president, I just organized a musical event (complete with belly dancer). Ooops.

[bluey]

Originally Posted by Variable

Hmm, I think there's some chemistry going on between those two across the aisle duh duh duh...

I thought the same thing when I saw the picture.

[hershel_krustowski]

Originally Posted by bluey

I thought the same thing when I saw the picture.

Mama Say Mama Sa Mama Cu Sa Mama Say Mama Sa Mama Cu Sa
Mama Say Mama Sa Mama Cu Sa Mama Say Mama Sa Mama Cu Sa
Mama Say Mama Sa Mama Cu Sa Mama Say Mama Sa Mama Cu Sa
Mama Say Mama Sa Mama Cu Sa Mama Say Mama Sa Mama Cu Sa
Mama Say Mama Sa Mama Cu Sa Mama Say Mama Sa Mama Cu Sa

[bluey]

Originally Posted by hershel_krustowski

Mama Say Mama Sa Mama Cu Sa Mama Say Mama Sa Mama Cu Sa
Mama Say Mama Sa Mama Cu Sa Mama Say Mama Sa Mama Cu Sa
Mama Say Mama Sa Mama Cu Sa Mama Say Mama Sa Mama Cu Sa
Mama Say Mama Sa Mama Cu Sa Mama Say Mama Sa Mama Cu Sa
Mama Say Mama Sa Mama Cu Sa Mama Say Mama Sa Mama Cu Sa

[Timbit]

Originally Posted by Bruinrab

Tut-tut, talk about scandalous behavior. I, of course, would never do something like that.

No, when I was president, I just organized a musical event (complete with belly dancer). Ooops.

Okay, you're just a big haraam. How did that go over?

At least panty roses are semi-halal. Actually, they're probably all-halal. I don't see anything wrong with selling them. It's kinda weird that a Muslim man would, but hey, it's men who sell lingerie in Muslim states.

Unless you're gonna say that Valentine's Day is haraam. But we weren't celebrating it... just using it as an occasion to fundraise? In any case, I don't think it's reason to question his morality. If he really had loose morals, he'd be buying them for all the ladies.

They sold like hot cakes, honestly. A guy bought like two dozen for his girlfriend and made a bouquet of them.

[Bruinrab]

Originally Posted by Timbit

Okay, you're just a big haraam. How did that go over?

I booked the musicians, they brought the dancer as a "surprise" for me.

It went fairly well...except for the white lady who left because it was a little much for her kiddies to absorb (so much for exposing her kids to "culture" )

Edit: That first part should have been clear long before today.

[Sugarberry]

I think its sad that MSA's problems and by default MSA National, have become so apparent that their being written about in the NY Times.

My msa is considerably conservative.....but I was willing to give a chance and tried to effect change by running for a position on the e-board.. but after i lost ( to a guy who compared himself to aladdin) I gave up on MSA ...and I have been much happier.

[IbnMardhiyah]

Originally Posted by Sugarberry

I think its sad that MSA's problems and by default MSA National, have become so apparent that their being written about in the NY Times.

The flip side of the coin is that no matter how angelic or scandalous Muslim matters are portrayed as, its still good da'wah.

[hijabihoodlum]

Originally Posted by Pushpa

I don't think people should be turned away or excluded because of their level of practice because this might be their opportunity to learn some more and if you deprive someone of that you are ultimately responsible.

However, I think there should be a way of providing events and activities without compromising Islamic principles. Socialising and interacting for the sake of learning from one another is one thing, socialising for the sake of socialising is something that does not and should not have to take place under the auspices of an organization like an msa. If people want to do so they can do it on their own, the MSA shouldn't be endorsing things which are unIslamic.

I like your first paragraph because I feel like it's sunnah. Subhanallah, if Muhammad (S) alienated people, we'd never be where we are.

I don't think socializing is un-Islamic. sure, there are specific actions that are haraam (fornication, lying, cheating, etc.), but who are we to decide that halaal actions are un-Islamic? what does UN-islamic mean, anyway?

that being said, i personally am very conservative in practice. just liberal in thought.

so, miniskirts and weed smokers and gamblers. you can certainly cower in a corner at the prospect of your muslim brothers and sisters partaking in activities you wouldnt, but does that get us anywhere? are we supposed to disown members of our own faith in order to maintain...our...own....faith? <--see the paradox here?

if we EVER expect to be effective- politically, socially, spiritually- as a group- muslims, here in the United States, then we really need to get past the pettiness of pointing fingers and judging each other.

[sally]

when non muslims come to MSA events, they will often go OUT OF THEIR WAY, WAY out of their way to find out the proper attire they need to show up in, or if they're supposed to behave a certain way

if somebody (a Muslim with a mini skirt for eg) is looking to join the Muslim Students Association, they should start by trying to get a feel for the ASSOCIATION that they are looking to ASSOCIATE themselves with. what little accomodations might they have to make in order to present their own image in a mature and decent fashion?

not much different than trying to get a feel for the culture of a corporate environment/job that you've been potentially given the chance of being interviewed for. if you show up half drunk and naked, don't expect them to take you seriously..

[YOUSUFofSD]

Originally Posted by hijabihoodlum

I like your first paragraph because I feel like it's sunnah. Subhanallah, if Muhammad (S) alienated people, we'd never be where we are.

I don't think socializing is un-Islamic. sure, there are specific actions that are haraam (fornication, lying, cheating, etc.), but who are we to decide that halaal actions are un-Islamic? what does UN-islamic mean, anyway?

that being said, i personally am very conservative in practice. just liberal in thought.

so, miniskirts and weed smokers and gamblers. you can certainly cower in a corner at the prospect of your muslim brothers and sisters partaking in activities you wouldnt, but does that get us anywhere? are we supposed to disown members of our own faith in order to maintain...our...own....faith? <--see the paradox here?

if we EVER expect to be effective- politically, socially, spiritually- as a group- muslims, here in the United States, then we really need to get past the pettiness of pointing fingers and judging each other.

I agree but we can't just ignore it...we need to let them know that this is not acceptable Islamic behavior and certainly not plan gambling trips to Reno or whatever. That was craziness how they did that.

[moonlightrose]

Originally Posted by Timbit

Sometimes people are like "Omg, the executives mix so freely, astaghfirullah! MSA is just Muslim Singles' Association" and I'm like "What're you talking about? Our MSA is like the most conservative MSA ever. The executives have to talk to each other... that's kind of a necessity."

with the amount of people who get hooked up/married through it, some MSAs should seriously be renamed that.

Originally Posted by hijabihoodlum

if we EVER expect to be effective- politically, socially, spiritually- as a group- muslims, here in the United States, then we really need to get past the pettiness of pointing fingers and judging each other.

word!

[Timbit]

Originally Posted by moonlightrose